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The sheer obsession in Chloe Bishop’s eyes when she spoke of Kay reminded David Bishop of his late wife. Suddenly, a flood of memories and past events rushed back to him, and an unbidden sense of guilt rose in his heart.
"Fine. I’ll give Kay to you," David Bishop said, his voice softening. "But keep your shares. Consider Kay a gift from me—I remember your birthday is coming up soon." Perhaps driven by his guilty conscience, he was generous enough to let her keep her ten percent.
"I don't need your charity," Chloe replied, her face returning to an icy chill. "Once you sign that agreement, our transaction is finished. I want Kay to be completely independent from the Bishop Group. I’m not asking for a toy to play with for a few days, only for you to take it back whenever you're in a bad mood."
"I wouldn't do that. If I say it’s yours, it’s yours. I won’t take it back," David promised.
Chloe had zero patience for this display of "fatherly love." Her voice sharpened with a thin layer of rage. "How many times do I have to say it before you understand? I don't want your handouts. Sign it! And let me remind you of one thing: the doctors said my emotions shouldn't be triggered, or I might have a relapse. You know that legally, a 'mentally ill' person isn't held responsible for murder. Aren't you afraid I’ll lose it and kill Lyana Stark? You know I wake up every day wishing she were dead."
David Bishop was visibly shaken. "Chloe, please, calm down."
"I am very calm right now," Chloe threatened. "But if you don't sign, I can't guarantee I’ll stay that way."
David knew she was threatening him, but he found himself utterly powerless to stop her. Forced into a corner, he opened the agreement and, without even looking at the terms, flipped to the last page. He signed his name on both copies of the contract.
"I’ll be taking this for notarization," Chloe said, snatching one of the copies from the desk. "I expect the Bishop Group to publicly announce that Kay has been sold and is no longer a clothing brand under your umbrella." With that final word, she turned and left.
As Chloe came downstairs, Lyana Stark was sitting on the sofa in a very elegant pose, looking every bit the high-society wife. When she saw Chloe, her eyes turned venomous. Her gaze flickered toward the document in Chloe’s hand.
Chloe scoffed internally and marched right past her. She knew exactly what Lyana was thinking—the woman assumed she had come back to beg David for something valuable. The look in Lyana’s eyes was sharp enough to be a bullet.
Leaving the Bishop house, Chloe hailed a taxi and went straight to Jake Tully’s law firm. Jake took the agreement and immediately had an assistant take Chloe’s identification to the notary office. By the end of the day, the legal owner of the Kay brand had officially been changed to Chloe Bishop.
The next day was the weekend, and David Bishop wasn't in the office. On Monday, he had the Bishop Group issue a public announcement: Kay had been sold and was now an independently owned clothing brand.
The news was like a pebble dropped into the ocean; no one really cared if an outdated brand like Kay still belonged to the Bishop Group. After all, the current Bishop Group no longer needed a brand like Kay to stay afloat.
However, Chloe was waiting for exactly this news. After seeing the announcement, she felt a surge of genuine joy. She changed into a fresh outfit and took a taxi to the only remaining Kay boutique.
The shop wasn't in a prime location, but it wasn't bad either. Located on an old street, the shop occupied two floors and was situated near the entrance of the block—the second shop in.
Chloe stood at the entrance, looking up at the Kay sign. Her eyes were full of bittersweet emotion. Five years. She was finally back. This time, Kay belonged to her alone. This time, she would protect it and restore it to its former glory and honor.
"Excuse me, Miss? I’m sorry, but this shop has been sold and is temporarily closed," a sales clerk said, stepping out to apologize after noticing Chloe standing there for a long time.
Chloe snapped out of her thoughts. She saw a young girl, roughly her own age, wearing a checkered dress. Her sweet features made the slightly playful dress look even more beautiful.
"I know," Chloe said, nodding to the girl. "I’m the new owner."
The girl’s sweet face filled with shock. It took a moment before she let out an "Oh!" and ushered Chloe inside. "Then please, come in!"